Warmer weather means ice cream in the park. Van Leeuwen returns to USQ as the seasonal vendor for another great summer near the subway entrance at the west side of the park near 16th St. With rotating ice cream (including vegan) flavors, expect sweet treats in the Square.
NY1 reports:
New York’s annual block party will return this summer with even more Saturday morning activities for participants.
The Department of Transportation will host the Fifth Annual Summer Streets event on August 4, 11 and 18.
The Summer Streets route runs from the Brooklyn Bridge all the way to 72nd Street along Park Avenue and connecting streets. The seven miles of city streets will be blocked off for activities ranging from yoga to dance classes.
DOT officials also fit thousands of people for free bicycle helmets during Summer Streets as part of its Bike Smart program.
“The streets are for everyone and it’s a great way for New Yorkers to get out and enjoy and see the city in a different way and engage in some really fun, healthy, terrific activities,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
One of the highlights this year will likely be a 160-foot zip line at Union Square Park.
On Tuesday morning, the zip line was set up by Fantasy World Entertainment in Union Square for passersby to try out.
“For your first time [it’s scary], after that, you’ll come right back in line,” said Greg Korzeniowski of Fantasy World Entertainment.
“It’s a great idea for a bit of a good rush in the morning, great way to wake you up. I don’t have to have a coffee this morning, I’ve done this,” said one zip line user.
“It was fun. When you jump off, I was a little nervous, but then it was like fun,” said another.
Even NY1’s Roger Clark tried out the zip line. As he stood 30 feet about Union Square, the operators assured him that he would be caught by workers at the end of the 160-feet line.
Clark did have a safe landing, and then wanted to use the zip line again. He wasn’t the only one.
“As soon as I finished I was like, can I go again? I didn’t think he would let me, but he did, so it was fun,” said a zip line user.
No foul play is suspected in the death of the woman who fell down her Union Square building’s trash chute in July, the city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said on December 19. The body of Lara Prychodko, 48, was discovered by a building maintenance worker inside the trash compactor at Zeckendorf Towers on the corner of Irving Place and E. 15th Street on July 10, police said. Authorities believe the woman dropped 27-stories in the chute. Her body was discovered “crushed from multiple angles” in the compactor. It was not immediately clear if Prychodko’s death was accidental or a homicide, authorities said at the time.
Next week (September 23 to September 27), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on the academic floors inside the building. Additionally we will be using a lift on the sidewalk to wash the exterior of the building.
The following week (September 30 to October 4), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on academic floors.
This weekend the site will be open on Saturday, September 21st for interior activities between the work hours of 7AM and 5PM as permitted by the City.
Zoning changes around Union Square, specifically to OUR zone, C6, are designed to make it easier for a wider variiety of businesses to set up shop at the ground floor level and above. The details are here. For example,
Arcades
Axe-throwing
Billiards/pool halls
Bowling alleys
Escape rooms
Golf simulator driving range
Indoor go-karts
Indoor skateboard park
Interactive or virtual reality attractions
Laser tag
Miniature golf
Observation towers
Ping pong/table tennis
Play spaces/family fun centers
Wax figure exhibitions
Seasonally: haunted houses and similar fright attractions
Comedy shows
Concerts
Dancing
Open-mic night or poetry reading
3-D printing
Brewery
Ceramic studio
Jewelry making
Wholesale and/or large-scale bakery
Woodworking
Other food and beverage producers, such as coffee roasters, ice cream makers, and shared commercial kitchen or food business incubator space
Other makers
Read this fun and interesting New Yorker article about artists who get together in our nearby smelly Taco Bell.
